Two CSSP Talks on 29th October "Achieving Rural Sanitation for All: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan" by A K Sen Gupta, at 11:30 am and "Science in Action: Of Patients, Physicians, and Publics of Stem Cell Technologies in India" by Nayantara Sheoran

Centre for Studies in Science Policy

School of Social Sciences

Special Lecture Series

October 2014

Talk on

"Achieving Rural Sanitation for All: Swachh Bharat Abhiyan"

By

A K Sen Gupta

Director General, International Academy of Environmental Sanitation and Public Health, New Delhi; Formerly with World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for South-East Asia, New Delhi

Listen to the Recorded Talk 

Venue:  Room no. 227,  SSS1 Building, JNU

Date:    Wednesday, 29^th October 2014

Abstract: Sanitation is one of the basic determinants of quality of life and human development index. Good sanitary practices prevent contamination of water and soil and thereby prevent diseases. The concept of sanitation was, therefore, expanded to include personal hygiene, home sanitation, safe water, garbage disposal, excreta disposal and waste water disposal. Open defecation is a traditional behaviour in rural India. This along with the relative neglect of sanitation in terms of development priorities was reflected in the country's low sanitation coverage at the close of the 1990s when it was found that only 30% rural households had access to a toilet (Census 2011). The census report shows that 67.3% i.e. 113 million rural households practice open defecation. This fact, combined with low awareness of improved hygiene behaviour, makes the achievement of the goal of total sanitation a pressing challenge in rural India. The responsibility for provision of sanitation facilities in the country primarily rests with local government bodies – Gram Panchayat in rural areas. The State and Central Governments act as facilitators, through enabling policies, budgetary support and capacity development. This presentation will highlight changing policy paradigms in the areas of rural sanitation due to concerted efforts made by WHO, UNICEF, Sulabh International, and other organizations. This presentation will also analyse salient features of erstwhile Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan and its new avatar Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

2nd Talk on

"Science in Action: Of Patients, Physicians, and Publics of Stem Cell Technologies in India"

By

Dr. Nayantara Sheoran

Graduate Institute, Geneva, Switzerland

                  

Listen to the Recorded Talk 

Venue:  Room no. 227,  SSS1 Building, JNU

Date:    Wednesday, 29^th October 2014

All are welcome to attend the lecture.

Madhav Govind, Saradindu Bhaduri

Coordinator, CSSP Lecture Series